Cuomo: ‘Extend And Strengthen’ Rent Laws

Gov. Andrew Cuomo this morning released his third policy-oriented Web video, this time urging the Legislature to “extend and strengthen” the rent laws, which are set to expire next month.

“There’s no doubt that affordable housing is the building block of strong communities and a strong economy. But for too many New Yorkers, affordable housing is just out of reach,” Cuomo says in the video. “In New York, more than 1 million people are protected by New York’s rent regulation program.”

“However, this program is set to expire June 15, less than 5 weeks from now. That would be a crisis for our state. In fact, what we need to extend and strengthen our rent regulation laws, and we need to do it now.”

The rent laws, which are a top priority for the downstate-dominated, Democrat-controlled Assembly, are not one of Cuomo’s top three post-budget policy priorities outlined in his “People First” tour (next stop for the governor: Lake Placid). As has been reported ad nauseam at this point, that trio includes: Ethics reform, legalization of gay marriage and the property tax cap.

This stance puts Cuomo at odds with the Senate Republicans, who are allied with the landlords – particularly REBNY, which is split with the governor on this issue, in spite of its membership in the pro-Cuomo Committee to Save NY – and appear willing to renew the rent laws, but not strengthen them.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been arguing that the tax cap and rent laws are philosophically the same – both prevent people from getting priced out of their homes. But so far, a trade does not appear to be in the offing.

So far, Cuomo has released videos on the tax cap (his first) and ethics reform, but not gay marriage.

“Hello, Before I was Governor Cuomo, I was Secretary Cuomo. I worked as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Washington under the Clinton administration, in that position I was the head of housing for our nation.”

“There’s no doubt that affordable housing is the building block of strong communities and a strong economy. But for too many New Yorkers, affordable housing is just out of reach. In New York, more than 1 million people are protected by New York’s rent regulation program.”

“However, this program is set to expire June 15, less than 5 weeks from now. That would be a crisis for our state. In fact, what we need to extend and strengthen our rent regulation laws, and we need to do it now.”

“Since 1994, over 238,000 apartments have been removed from rent regulation leaving middle class New Yorkers with fewer affordable options. And by current standards it is estimated that over 130,000 more apartments could be lost to decontrol in the next few years.”

“Having affordable housing works for all New Yorkers – a strong middle class is the vital core of our economy and community. As New Yorkers we need to work together to protect the quality of life for all our people and we need our state legislature to act.”

“We have recently made great progress in Albany by passing a good budget and passing it on time; and this state legislature- the 234th legislative session- has the opportunity to do even more and produce a record of real achievement for the people of this state: addressing New York’s rent laws is an important part of that agenda.”

“Please contact your state legislators and urge them to extend and strengthen our state’s rent laws. And let’s make New York the Empire State once again. Thank you for listening.”